Grain-separating screen



4UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES CLOSZ, OF STJANSGAR, IOVA.

GRAIN-SEPARATING SCREEN.

SPECIFICATIONAforming part of Letters Patent No. 434,246, dated August12, 1890. 4

Application filed May 8, 1890. Serial No. 35I.049. (No model.) Y

To 'all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES OLosz, a citizen of the United States,residing at St. Ansgar, in the county of Mitchell and State of Iowa,have invented new and useful Improvements in Grain-Separating Screens,of which the following is a specification.

My improvement is directed to a novel construction ofthe corrugatedsheet-metal chaffing screen or riddle for grain-separators, andparticularly for eecting a preliminary separation of straw, sticks,weeds, husks, bits of cob, silk, and nails from the grain. Myimprovement embraces a construction of such sheet-metal separatorwherein ridges are inclined upward between approximately heartshapedopenings and terminate in spearpoints at the rear edge of each openingto form shallow side inclines between and terminating in the lowestfront edges of the said ridges and spear-points in an outward enddischarge under the longitudinal]y-reciproeating movement of theplatform. The termination of the inclined ridges in spear-points is togive enlarged rounded ends to the openings on each side of thespear-points; to allow for the free passage of air-currents; to moreefectually assist in raising the straw as it rides over the inclinedridges, and to cause the grain to pass to the enlarged ends of theopenings along the shallow side slopes formed by said ridges.

The accompanying drawings illustrate this construction, and the claimsconcluding this specification will particularly point out theimprovements.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a vertical longitudinal sectionof my improved shaking-screen for separating grain, taken through theinclined ridges of the spearpoints. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectionof the same, taken through the openings; and Fig. 3 is a top view of thesame.

In the drawings, I have only shown the shaking platform-separator, asits illustration in connection with a supply-hopper and other suitableseparating appliances is deemed unnecessary to a proper understanding ofthe improvement and its use in such machines. It will be understood,however, that the grain to be separated is delivered from a suitablehopper or conveyer upon the inner end A of the corrugated platform, andthat the latter is connected to a suitable devicel for giving it alongitudinally-reciprocating movement, and for this purpose it may besuspended from fixed parts of the frame or supported upon fixed ways ofthe frame, and that it is set with a downward inclination toward thedischarge end for the passage of the straw and long stuff; or it may beused in a horizontal position.

The separator-platform is of sheet metal and is formed with longitudinalcorrugations a, which extend in parallel relation the length of theplatform and at such height and distance apart as to form channels,within which approximately heart shaped openings are made so as to standcrosswise therein and to extend from the base of one corrugation to theba'se of the other. These approximately heart-shaped openings arepreferably formed with their forward edges nearly straight and theirinner edges rounded into enlarged ends b. Between each of theseheart-shaped openings and centrally and longitudinally between thecor-rugations, the channels are formed with ridges c, which are inclinedupward toward the discharge end of the platform and terminate inspear-points d at the inner edges of the openings, so as'to form shallowinclines c on each side of the ridges, which slope downward and inwardfrom the spear-points at the highest'curved edge of one opening to thelowest forward straight edge of the next opening. This constructiongives two inward slopingsurfaces e between the central ridges and thecorrugations and enlarged endsto the openings on each side of thespear-points, which serve to facilitate the separation and discharge ofthe grain from the straw and other foreign stu which is too long and toolarge to pass through the openings. The forward straight edges of theopenings are beveled downward, and the openings are not only left fullyuncovered but are enlarged at each end'. In this separating ac tion thecentral ridges c serve to separate the mass as it is movedlongitudinally over the openings and to cause the grain to slide downIOO into the two enlarged ends of the openings in either direction. Forsome distance the receiving end of the corrugated platform is madewithout the openings and the central ridges c are not inclined but standat aheight on a level with the spear-points for the purpose of causinglong stuff in the mass to turn lengthwise before it reaches the firstopenings, and thereby place such stuff in position to move along overthe central ridges the sloping sides and the openings. This platform maybe used with any form and arrangement of under-shaking screens and withor without a fan-blast; and I prefer to form it of a single sheet ofmetal and to secure it to a frame or side bars.

The inclined ridges c serve to give increased stiffness to the platform,and are made by comparatively shallow corrugations, which are about halfthe height of the unbroken corrugations. sheet-metal separating-surfaceof unbroken parallel longitudinal corrugations, intermediate interruptedinclined ridges terminating in spear-points, slopes on each side of saidridges, and openings crossing said ridges and extending on each side ofthe said spearpoints.

It will be seen that the spear-points give the rounded ends to theopenings, so that they are thereby made of circular and enlarged form ateach end, and the grain is more easily passed through it by reason ofthe spear-point standing at the middle of the length of the Thisconstruction forms a rigid' ends of the latter and extending around eachside of the point.

The extent of the space between the openings will be governed by thespecial use of the screen.

I claim as my improvement- ,y

l. A screen for grain-separators, constructed of a sheet-metal platformcorrugated and having approximately heart shaped openings standingcrosswise, ridges c, formed between these openings inclining upward fromthe outer edge of the middle of one opening to the inner edge of themiddle of the next opening and terminating in the latter in spearpointsd, whereby to form inclines e which slope from each side of saidspear-points toward the inner end of the platform and terminate in saidopenings, substantially as described, fer the purpose specified.

y 2. A sheet-metal platform-screen for grainseparators, formed with thelongitudinal corrugations, intermediate upwardly inclined spear-pointedridges c (l, and the openings having enlarged rounded ends formed bytheridge spear-points and extending on each side of the latter7 as shownand described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

CHARLES CLOSZ.

Vitnesses:

A. E. H. JOHNSON, PHILIP F. LARNER,

